Biñan comes second in Laguna coming from Metro Manila next to San Pedro City. The city is one of three comprising the first congressional district of Laguna (San Pedro City and Santa Rosa City are the others).

With its proximity to Metro Manila, Biñan is one of the most susceptible places for investments, industries, and other economic activities. The two world-class and premiere industrial parks of the Philippines are located in Biñan, the Laguna International Industrial Park (LIIP) and the Laguna Technopark Incorporated (LTI). The city is now transforming into a more competitive, progressive, and one of the major growth areas in the CALABARZON Region.

Where Biñan got its name is a mystery. Some deduced that before Captain Juan de Salcedo proceeded to Cainta and Taytay finally reaching Bay, he landed in Biñan. According to the story, Padres Alfonso de Alvarado and Diego Espinar planted a huge wooden cross on the spot where the present day San Isidro Labrador parish stands and co-celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass. Curious natives gathered and the two Spanish missionaries took advantage of the situation. They baptized each one of them. From then on, old folks say they called the place “Binyagan,” which means a baptismal place. The Spanish tongue’s difficulty in pronouncing the local dialect acquired for the once town its name— "Biñan".

The City of Biñan is located in the Philippine province of Laguna, about 34 kilometres (21 mi) south of Manila. It is bounded on the north by San Pedro City on the south by Santa Rosa City and on the west by Carmona, Cavite. On the eastern and northern horizon lies the Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.

Biñan City, shaped like the number seven (7) on the map, covers a total land area of 43.50 square km that represents 2.5 percent of the entire Laguna province. In 2008, Biñan had a total population of 269,608. It is the fourth most populated in the province, (9.8% of the provincial population) next only to Calamba City (12.66%), San Pedro City (11.42%), and Santa Rosa City (9.92%).

Biñan is generally plain with 85.33 percent of its total area having a slope of zero to 2.5 percent. This covers all the 24 barangay except for small portions of Barangay Biñan and San Francisco having a slope ranging from 2.6 to 25 percent, meaning it is gently sloping to strongly sloping. With more than three-fourths of its area generally level to nearly level, this makes Biñan suitable for agricultural and urban development.

The climate of Biñan is characterized by two pronounced seasons; dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Maximum rainfall occurs from June to September with an annual average rainfall of 200 mm. Biñan is protected by mountains in the peripheral areas, and thus it is making the area cooler.

Of the eleven types of soil that compose the land area of Laguna, Carmona and Gingua series covers about two types that can only be seen in Biñan. Carmona series covers about 2,577 hectares or 59.24 seen in Biñan's land area. Agricultural land in these areas is primarily devoted to rice and sugar production. Gingua series, on other hand, specifically the fine sandy type covers 315 hectares which is one of the most productive soils in Laguna where a variety of crops especially vegetables are grown profitably. The other two basic soil types comprising Biñan City are Guadalupe series covering 660 hectares and Lipa series with 798 hectares.

Biñan comprises 24 barangays, all classified as urban.[2] Barangay San Francisco occupies the largest area which is about 16.83 percent of Biñan while Barangay Casile has the smallest area with only 12 hectares or 0.27 percent.

Captain Juan de Salcedo discovered and founded Biñan at the end of June 1571, a month after Miguel López de Legazpi established Manila when he explored the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines and second in Asia (Laguna de Bay).

When the seat of the provincial government of the Provincia de la Laguna de Bay was moved from Bay to Pagsanjan in 1688, Biñan separated from Tabuco (now the city of Cabuyao).

In 1791, during the time of Pablo Faustino, Santa Rosa separated from Biñan. The following year, January 15 Sta Rosa de Lima was established and became an independent town.

Historically, Biñan is nationally recognized in the books related to the biography of José Rizal, the country's national hero. It was in June 1869 when José Rizal as a young boy went to Biñan with his brother Paciano. They proceeded to his aunt's house near the town proper where they were to be lodged. Here, his first formal education was entrusted to Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz who after a year and a half of tutelage advised young Rizal to continue higher education in Manila. In honor of José Rizal, a plaque of recognition was bestowed on the house where he stayed at. A monument now stands at the center of Biñan's plaza in recognition of Biñan's affiliation to Rizal.

The majority of the people are Roman Catholics. Other religious groups include are the Members Church of God International (A.K.A. Ang Dating Daan/The Old Path/El Camino Antiguo), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL), The United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Churches, Baptist and Bible Fundamental churches.

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, located at the downtown city plaza of Barangay Poblacion.

Biñan Municipality has been popularly recognized as the trading center area immediately south of Metro Manila. The city has the largest public market in the province of Laguna, and in the CALABARZON Region. Retailers from nearby towns often plow the city proper to purchase goods and merchandise intended to be sold elsewhere. Biñan has also been the center of commerce in the region because of the numerous banking institutions across the city, plus the ever-growing number of commercial establishments and emerging shopping centers.

A common sight is the preparations and setting up of the wholesalers and the arrival of jeepneys and trucks carrying various items such as fruits, vegetables, dry goods, dairy products, meat, fish, etc. The market activity would be 24 hours with peak reaching the early hours (3:00–7:00 am) as Filipinos are known to work in the early hours of the day trying to prevent exposure to the beating sun.

The city is also known for a type of pancake made from rice flour, topped with cheese or butter (Puto Biñan). The best known makers of Puto in Biñan are located in the barangay of San Vicente, that's why the city is renowned for as "The Home of the Famous Puto Biñan in Laguna".

This city is also known for the shoes and slippers manufactured in Barangay dela Paz and Malaban. While in Barangay Platero you will find the manufacturer of hats or the so-called "Sumbrero".

An aerial perspective of the master plan for the One Asia Business Center.

As of 2008, Biñan, headed by its Historical, Tourism and Cultural Council has formed "Biñan Business Club", a non-government organization composed of all business establishments of the said municipality. The Biñan Business Club works to anticipate trends and provide support to help local business enterprises and the community face them head on. The Club commits itself to the essential aspects of economic development and poverty alleviation. It knows that the Biñan community counts on the help of the organization to attract, retain and enhance business through traditional and non-traditional strategies.

One Asia Business Center will be the first-state-of the art business and commercial hub in the south of Metro Manila. It is a 10-hectare development strategically located within the Jubilation New Biñan, making it highly accessible to Metro Manila and other areas south, north and east of Laguna such as Batangas, Cavite and Muntinlupa through two major roads – SLEX Mamplasan Exit and the National Highway. This Business Center is envisioned to be the first well-planned and full landscaped business park offering medium size commercial lots for sale. This business park will be a major component of an integrated master planned development of Jubilation or what is called the New Biñan City which is composed of residential, commercial, recreational and institutional uses. With its thrust to significantly contribute to the anticipated economic development in the cities of Biñan, Santa Rosa and Cabuyao, the city of San Pedro, and the rest of the highly progressive provinces south of Metro Manila, is envisioned to be the business and financial center of the South.[5]

Southwoods Center.

Inaugurated on July 25, 2012, Southwoods Center, located in Barangay San Francisco, situated at Southwoods Exit along the South Luzon Expressway, has been proclaimed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) as of July 2010 as a Special Economic Zone. It is a 15-hectare project which will include a strip mall, residential condominium towers, an outlet center, a lifestyle park and a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) center, among other facilities. This soon will become the CALABARZON's premiere BPO and shopping hub.[6]

The city is accessible to all types of land transportation via South Luzon Expressway through Mamplasan, Southwoods, and Carmona exits. From the south or from the capital town Sta. Cruz, the National Highway can be utilized.

The current mayor of Biñan, Marlyn Alonte, envisioned the new seal of the city, as Biñan became a city of the province of Laguna. The seal symbolized the following:

The Rizal Monument is used to depict the heroism of the National Hero of the Philippines, Dr. José Rizal, who had his first formal education at Biñan under the tutelage of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz who after a year and a half of tutelage advised the young Rizal to continue his education in Manila.

The large mortar and pestle signify subterranean and earth-related resources, thus emblematizing the agricultural activities of the city, the renowned “Puto Biñan” and the “family” represents solidarity and the result of human industry and initiative in the areas of manufacturing and intellectual production.

The “2010” represents the year that Republic Act 9740 was signed into law creating the City of Biñan and ratified by majority vote of its people during the plebiscite held on February 2, 2010.

The book signifies the city's continuous quest for knowledge and its commitment to providing quality free education to its constituents.

The industries represent the budding industries located at the Laguna Technopark and the Laguna International Industrial Park.

The Heroes Monument symbolizes the bravery, sacrifice and valor of Biñan's ancestors.

The pair of slippers had been adapted from the old Municipal Seal which, together with the cap represent the small businesses which originated from Biñan and entrepreneurial skills of its people.

The 24 barangays that constitute the demographic profile of the Municipality of Biñan.

Their golden color signifies their individual verdant and abundant indigenous resources readily available for conversion into productive and profitable uses.

The elements enumerated above are encircled at the outer edge by a golden circle, wherein the words “Municipality of Biñan” are written within.

The two golden stars flanking the words “Municipality of Biñan” represent Service and Integrity.

Biñan is also considered the educational center of the first congressional district of Laguna, having the most number of secondary and tertiary schools in the area. Most barangays in the city also have their own respective public elementary schools.

The city is notable for its popular summer destination, Splash Island, the Philippines’ premiere water recreation themepark. It is located at Barangay San Francisco, accessible via South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) through Southwoods Exit.

Tibagan Falls, located in Barangay Malamig, is known as one of the locations for a film shooting featuring the Hollywood Action star Chuck Norris.

Pavilion Mall, managed by Ayala Malls, is located in between Barangay San Antonio and Barangay Santo Niño. Biñan Central Mall, located at the busy intersection in the city's downtown, is the newest mall in the city which had its soft-opening on September 9, 2011. José Rizal Monument Plaza, in downtown Biñan, is the major landmark of the city, which is beside the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church which is also beside the old municipal hall, and the public market.

Biñan is historically known as the place where José Rizal received his first formal education. He was about eight years old when he and his brother, Paciano left Calamba and settled in Biñan. There, he used to reside in his mother's ancestral home, owned by the family of Jose Alberto Alonzo, the father of Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonzo. The Alberto Mansion, built in the early 19th century, is a two-storey house with a floor area of about 600 square meters and is currently located at the Poblacion across from the city government building. The property has been passed down to his heir, Gerardo Alberto.[8]

The city government of Biñan aimed to declare the Alberto Mansion a heritage site. The city council had approved the release of Php 20 million (about US$ 482,000.00) for the purchase of the 2,000-square-meter property, but Gerardo Alberto declined the offer and sold the 200 year-old mansion to Gerry Acuzar, owner of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a heritage resort in Bagac, Bataan. Much of the house’s interior had been dismantled and brought to Bataan, where Acuzar is rebuilding it, using the doors, pillars and other appurtenances from the original structure.[9] Then on October 22, 2012, the house collapsed from its roof. The residents suspect that the dismantling of the interior of the house (without a demolition permit from the city government), might have caused the collapse of the roof.

The partial collapse of the mansion became a huge call to the Biñan City government for the Alberto Mansion's expropriation.[10] Although the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has not yet intervened, several online petitions are being posted by some concerned citizens and non-governmental groups, calling the attention of the President, to save the mansion.[11]

The collapse of the Alberto Mansion.

In 2009, the National Cultural Heritage Act was signed into law, by the NHCP, stating that structures at least 50 years old are to receive special protection from the government. The Alberto house is more than 200 years old. According to the law, such buildings cannot be demolished without a permit from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts or NHCP. As national cultural treasures, they are entitled to privileges such as "priority government funding for protection, conservation and restoration." Also stated on the law, there should be a Conservation Incentive Program that encourages private individuals to restore and maintain such structures. The law further commands that an official heritage marker be placed by the cultural agency concerned to indicate that the immovable cultural property has been identified as a national historical site.[12]

Heritage advocates, the municipal government of Biñan, and its residents believe that only President Benigno Aquino III can turn the tide. He can empower the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to restore and repair the house.[13]